Accessory attachment assembly for container

Abstract

A container includes a plurality of sidewalls that define an enclosed area accessible by a removable lid, a mounting body coupled to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls, and an accessory attachment selectively attachable to the mounting body, the accessory attachment comprising a flexible portion that flexes to permit coupling of the accessory attachment to the mounting body.

We claim: 
     
       1. A container comprising:
 a plurality of sidewalls that define an enclosed area accessible by a removable lid; 
 a mounting body comprising an upper catch and a lower catch, the mounting body coupled to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls and at least one adjoining sidewall; and 
 an accessory attachment selectively attachable to the mounting body, the accessory attachment comprising:
 a flexible portion that flexes to permit coupling of the accessory attachment to the mounting body; 
 an upper catch; and 
 a lower catch; 
 
 wherein each of the upper catch and lower catch of the accessory attachment cooperate with the corresponding upper catch and lower catch of the mounting body. 
 
     
     
       2. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory attachment further comprises a support body extending from the accessory attachment upper catch to the accessory attachment lower catch, wherein the flexible portion comprises the support body. 
     
     
       3. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper catch and the lower catch of the mounting body are substantially parallel to the at least one of the plurality of sidewalls. 
     
     
       4. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a first pair of opposed sidewalls and a second pair of opposed sidewalls, wherein the mounting body is coupled to at least one of the first pair of opposed sidewalls or the second pair of opposed sidewalls. 
     
     
       5. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting body upper catch is nearer to the removable lid than is the lower catch, wherein the upper catch is further outward from the at least one of the plurality of sidewalls than is the lower catch. 
     
     
       6. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sidewalls define an upper lip configured to be coupled to the removable lid, wherein the mounting body is below the upper lip. 
     
     
       7. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory attachment comprises two or more different accessory attachments, wherein the two or more different accessory attachments are selectively attachable to the mounting body at a same time. 
     
     
       8. A method comprising:
 providing a container comprising a plurality of sidewalls that define an enclosed area accessible by a removable lid and a mounting body comprising an upper catch and a lower catch, the mounting body coupled to at least three of the plurality of sidewalls; 
 attaching an accessory attachment comprising an upper catch and a lower catch to the mounting body by flexing a flexible portion of the accessory attachment, coupling the upper catch of the accessory attachment to the upper catch of the mounting body and by coupling the lower catch of the accessory attachment to the lower catch of the mounting body; and 
 coupling the removable lid to the plurality of sidewalls while the accessory attachment is attached to the mounting body. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the accessory attachment further comprises a support body extending from the accessory attachment upper catch to the accessory attachment lower catch, wherein the flexible portion comprises the support body. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein attaching the accessory attachment to the mounting body comprises:
 coupling the upper catch of the accessory attachment to the upper catch of the mounting body; 
 flexing the support body while pivoting the accessory attachment about the upper catch of the mounting body; and 
 coupling the lower catch of the accessory attachment to the lower catch of the mounting body. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein attaching the accessory attachment to the mounting body comprises:
 coupling the lower catch of the accessory attachment to the lower catch of the mounting body; 
 flexing the support body while pivoting the accessory attachment about the lower catch of the mounting body; and 
 coupling the upper catch of the accessory attachment to the upper catch of the mounting body. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mounting body upper catch is nearer to the removable lid than is the lower catch, wherein the upper catch is further outward from the at least one of the plurality of sidewalls than is the lower catch. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of sidewalls define an upper lip, wherein coupling the removable lid to the plurality of sidewalls comprises coupling the removable lid to the upper lip, wherein the mounting body is below the upper lip. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the accessory attachment is a first accessory attachment, further comprising attaching a second accessory attachment to the mounting body by flexing a flexible portion of the second accessory attachment while the first accessory attachment is attached to the mounting body.